Definition of Mathematics

The four main components in math are patterns, measurements, computation and relationships. The following are examples of these.

This picture is an example of a pattern in a hundred number chart 

Can you Finish it?

        The above is an example of a pattern. Patterns are very important to math. Classifying shapes is an example of patterns.  Identifying a rectangle or a triangle in geometry or finding the repeating triangle is another example. People use these geometrical patterns in other ways also. Recognizing patterns is also important in recognizing solutions in algebra. Classifying shapes are not the only way you can also find the number the comes next such as in the above example. Ex. architecture, art. http://www.learner.org/teacherslab/math/patterns/number.html

Measurements- 11 inches plus 10 inches equals how many feet

                           1 and three quarters of a foot.

                Measurement is one practical use of math. We use measurements everyday in are life. ex. How far to walk, how long does the fence need to be so on and so on. Knowing distance, width, perimeter, are key to math. This is best shown in geometry and algebra. In geometry we are measuring shapes and concrete objects where as in algebra we do that in a little bit more discrete way. Algebra is for when we don't know the whole length or we need to know just part of it. ex. 11w=22 w stands for width. w=2 so the width is w. http://bellnet.tamu.edu/res_grid/meamath.htm this link shows practical ways to work with measurement.

Computation - 5+-1

                                   = 4

                        Computation is the first thing you learn in math. It is the basis of Math. In first grade you did simple problems and each you did harder and harder math problems. What did all those problems have in common? Computation!!! "Computation is to determine by mathematics, esp. by using numerical methods" Webster's II New Riverside Dictionary. Solving problems is what math is about.

relationships If a =b and b=c then a=c

                       transitive property

                            Relationships are another key in mathematics. The relationships between numbers help the computation process. For if you can identify the relationships such as in the example you will have an easier time figuring out the problem. Without relationships you would not even have a problem for x=5 is a relations as are many other problems and answers. Relations and patterns go hand in hand and some times considered the same. http://standards.nctm.org/document/eexamples/chap4/4.5/ This website shows patterns and relationships.

All of these properties can be represented on a graph. By using the numbers and putting them on specific points on the graph. Graphing your data gives you a nice visual. Graphing is very important because it will help you better understand your data. This website gives a good example. http://www.grassroots.brunnet.net/ssms/mappingmath/ 

See if you can figure out the pattern or relationship in this problem.

Here's the answer.

Here's the answer.

Array Array =

This is your evidence:
4 5 = 25

(a + 1) * b this is the answer

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